Lauren Conrad's L.A. Fashion Week Diary

1.
Model Casting

The Hills star's second collection is one of the most anticipated shows at this year's L.A.'s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, so we asked Lauren to document her pre-show prep. One of the first tasks on her to-do list was picking models, and she held two four-hour casting sessions at the house of her creative director, Sherry Wood. "We were looking for models with a great walk and a young fresh look," says Lauren. "We saw so many great girls. It was a really successful casting."

2.
Shopping for Flowers

"Flowers!" exclaims Lauren, of the pretty appliques she hunted down for her show. "Sherry and I went to Michael Levine, which is a great fabric store in the fashion district in downtown L.A., to look for flowers that work with the colors in the line. We incorporated a floral print into the spring collection so I wanted to use flowers in the overall look of the runway show. I have been seeing so many floral head pieces on the runway lately and I love it. I also wanted different types of the flowers that could be bunched together."

3.
Stocking Up on Supplies

Sherry and Lauren continue their shopping at Michael Levine. "We had to sort though a large bin of silk flowers and get ribbon, felt and glue guns," Lauren says of their excursion. "The store has a giant wall of flowers and buttons-different price points, colors, styles and fabrics." A dream for any hands-on designer!

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4.
Putting the Flowers to Use

"After we chose all the flowers, it was time to make them into headbands," says Lauren. But don't think it's all work and no play..."It was a long day and I got silly with the flowers!"

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5.
Show Logistics & Music

"Here I am agonizing over different music. A couple months before every show, I start thinking about the kind of music I would like to use during the show and closer to the show I sit down with our DJ and pick out a bunch of music. From there I choose the final six songs for the show," says Lauren. Below if the show's DJ, Ryan Best. "We worked with him on the last show so he knows the type of music I like and how each song needs to have a good beat for the models to walk to."

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6.
The Inspiration

The board on top "is the inspiration board for the overall look and the other board is for the hair and makeup for the show," says Lauren. Makeup artist Amy Nadine will create the face looks using Mark cosmetics and Christine Symonds, stylist at Warren-Tricomi Los Angeles, will head the team of hairstylists.

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7.
Model Fittings

Lauren was very hands-on throughout the process; here she sift through the looks that the models will wear on the runway-there were 41 in the show. "During the fitting we assign each model two or three looks," Lauren says. After picking who will wear what, the girls try their pieces on. "Most of the modal jersey pieces fit the models but many of the stretch sateen pieces had to be altered. This dress had to be taken in about two inches."

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8.
Accessories Galore!

"Shoes shoes shoes," says Lauren of the heels the models would wear on the runway. " We decided on three style from Report Signature." When it came to the rest of the accessories, "We chose bangles and rings by Alexis Bittar and belts from Forever 21."

Charley Gallay/Getty Images

9.
Show Time!

Below, Lauren poses with her makeup artist Amy Nadine and all the models (some wearing flower headpieces that Lauren made earlier), who are ready to hit the catwalk. "The show went so well and I would like to thank everyone who was involved and all of our sponsors," Lauren says.
CHECK OUT COVERAGE OF LAUREN'S SHOW HERE!

Camera courtesy of Olympus

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Model Casting

The Hills star's second collection is one of the most anticipated shows at this year's L.A.'s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, so we asked Lauren to document her pre-show prep. One of the first tasks on her to-do list was picking models, and she held two four-hour casting sessions at the house of her creative director, Sherry Wood. "We were looking for models with a great walk and a young fresh look," says Lauren. "We saw so many great girls. It was a really successful casting."